Towering Cloud City, the branch of the Misty Cloud Academy.
“Before we arrived here, the Hai family specifically told us not to let that kid participate in the selection process. I’m afraid you will upset the Hai family by doing what you did. We really can’t afford to offend the Hai family,” said an old man in a yellow dao robe.
He was a bit unhappy with what Ao Sheng had done prior because he was personally quite afraid of the Hai family.
Originally, it wasn’t supposed to be them being in charge of Towering Cloud City’s examination process.
It should have been Yi Yunmeng in charge.
But for some reason, the academy suddenly transferred Yi Yunmeng back and then replaced her with them. Before coming to Towering Cloud City, the Hai family sent a message telling them to find a way to avoid letting Luo Tian participate in the selection.
Although the two of them didn’t know what happened, it was the Hai family that allowed them to come here to manage the new disciple selection exam.
This was a very lucrative position.
They didn’t have to do much, and they earned nearly a million xuan coins in a short afternoon.
Ao Sheng would have done his job and just changed some rules so that Luo Tian wouldn’t be qualified for the selection exam. But beyond their expectation, Luo Tian pulled out a spiritual treasure that was at or above the sky grade.
One needs to understand that even in the Misty Cloud Academy, a sky grade spirit treasure was rarely seen.
The minimum grade of the Heaven Sword was the sky grade. It might even be a divine artifact. Ao Sheng felt that if he could obtain the Heaven Sword, then his strength would definitely rise many times. This was an irresistible temptation for any martial artist, so Ao Sheng also fell for it.
Ao Sheng smiled faintly and said, “Brother Huang, there’s really no need for you to worry about it. Even if we gave that kid ten years, he still wouldn’t be able to break through to the Condensation Element realm, let alone five hours. Look, two hours have already passed, and we are only three hours from sunset. Do you really think the kid can break through to the Condensation Element realm? It’s not like you don’t know that a person needs to have their dantian baptized in order to break through to the Condensation Element realm. That kid has a shattered dantian, so he cannot baptize it. That basically means he cannot make a breakthrough. If that kid can break through, then wouldn’t that trashy boy of the Yi family already be famous throughout the world?”
The yellow-robed old man exhaled as he was still feeling worried.
He didn’t know why the Hai family was targeting that kid, but he could feel Luo Tian was different from other martial artists.
Seeing how the yellow-robed old man still looked worried, Ao Sheng patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. I will definitely win. Once I get that spiritual treasure sword, I will give my Ephemeral Sword to you. Just help me with some words later on with the Hai family. There’s no way that kid can make a breakthrough.”
The yellow-robed old man flashed a smile as he had always been envious of the Ephemeral Sword. But he then frowned, “What if he does break through?”
“What if?”
“There is no what if!”
Ao Sheng looked at the outside of the house with a disdainful expression on his face. The disdainful expression slowly became sinister with killing intent. “If he does manage to break through… heh heh… Do you remember the saying that an innocent person can still get into trouble because of their wealth? It is a waste for such a sword to remain in his hands. If he were to really breakthrough, I would make him die before he can participate in the selection exam.”
He had already thought of everything and was determined to get his hands on that Heaven Sword.
The only thing on Ao Sheng’s mind was the sharpness of the Heaven Sword. He wanted to snatch it right now.
The eyes of the yellow-robed old man darkened as he whispered, “Brother Ao, the crime of assassinating a selection candidate isn’t light.”
Ao Sheng chuckled and replied, “If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who would find out? In the Middle Continent, many people die every day. The death of one or two Misty Cloud Academy candidates is also a very normal thing, not to mention that he’s just a piece of trash with a shattered dantian. Who would care if he was dead?”
The yellow-robed old man chuckled along.
Indeed, many people die each day. It was very normal for a few candidates to die as well. After going to a small place like Towering Cloud City for dozens of years, there weren’t any candidates who were able to enter the Misty Cloud Academy. The academy wouldn’t really care what went on here.
Especially, no one would care about a low talent trash with a shattered dantian.
At this point, the yellow-robed old man finally felt relieved.
No matter what, Luo Tian wouldn’t be able to participate in the selection. How can a dead person participate?
At this time, a servant came into the house.
The servant said respectfully, ”My lord, one of the five great families of Towering Cloud City, Bai Qi, wishes to meet with you.”
The yellow-robed old man asked, “What does he want?”
Ao Sheng said, “Of course, he came to plead for mercy. What else? They knew that kid couldn’t break through to the Condensation Element realm in five hours, so they came to plead on his behalf. You see, Brother Huang? They don’t even believe in their own people. Do you think that kid can win the bet?”
The yellow-robed old man replied, “Then we shouldn’t see him. Don’t give him a chance to beg for forgiveness.”
Just when the servant turned to relay their words, Ao Sheng stopped him. “Let’s meet with him. Why should we avoid it? Maybe he will send us some free money while at it?”
The yellow-robed old man was briefly stunned, “Brother Ao’s meaning is…”
He couldn’t understand what Ao Sheng was trying to get at.
Ao Sheng replied, “Brother Huang, just stand to the side and watch.”
“Let’s go.”
“Bring Bai Qi in. I want to see how many xuan coins he can bring us.” Ao Sheng’s face showed a playful smile as he said that. Money was never enough for any person, and xuan coins were particularly important for martial artists.
Xuan coins were the only common currency in the Ancient World.
A few minutes later.
Bai Qi, Bai Lingling, and Bai Xiong arrived at a small courtyard.
Bai Qi advised in a low voice, “The two of you will watch from the side and keep quiet. If you make them unhappy, you will definitely not stand a chance in this examination. Do you both understand? Especially you, Ling’er. Your father will take care of everything.”
Bai Lingling nodded, “En~.”
Bai Xiong grumbled, “Father, shouldn’t we believe in the boss? I think master will not lie to us or do something he wasn’t confident in. I think…”
Bai Qi sighed, “It’s no use what you think Xiong’er. If Luo Tian breaks through, that means he’s going to win the bet against Ao Sheng. Do you think he will let you guys pass the selection examination that easily after losing a bet? He will definitely cause trouble for all of you.”
Bai Xiong didn’t say anything.
“Hahaha…”
“Patriarch Bai, I wonder what has caused you to suddenly come here?” Ao Sheng chuckled politely, pretending he didn’t know what was going on.
Bai Qi bent at the waist for a slight bow and greeted respectfully, “My lord, you have worked hard. I have specially brought some gifts over to show my gratitude. I hope you will forgive my son-in-law for offending you this morning.”
After saying that, Bai Qi handed over some expensive gifts.
They were considered quite good spiritual treasures worth thousands of xuan coins. This amount can feed and clothe a family of five for their entire lives.
But Ao Sheng didn’t even look at them and said, “The young have always been wild and frivolous. We, too, have been wild in our past. There’s no need to talk about forgiving or accommodating…”
Bai Qi’s heart relaxed when he heard those words.
Bai Lingling and Bai Xiong’s gaze turn to relief.
But Ao Sheng’s voice suddenly turned grim as he said, “But that kid is too insolent, daring to make a bet with me. And wanting me to admit being some mongrel lapdog has made me very upset. Even if the young are wild and frivolous, one needs to see what kind of status they have. A piece of trash dares to act arrogant in front of me? One who doesn’t know the immensity of the heavens and earth. If it weren’t for me having a good heart, he would already have become a corpse.”
Ao Sheng’s voice contained cold, killing intent.
While he was talking, he also released a trace of his oppressive power.
Bai Qi was almost forced to kneel on the ground.
Bai Lingling and Bai Xiong’s faces paled, their bodies trembling, and they could hardly take a proper breath.
When facing a high ranking member of the Misty Cloud Academy, the three of them could only accept being suppressed.
Bai Qi said in a strained manner, “My lord, please don’t bother with a junior. He is still young and unintelligent and happened to offend my lord. Can the bet be…”
“Be what?”
Ao Sheng said, “He was the one who wanted to gamble. Do you think this matter can go away that easily? He was making me look bad in front of so many people. I really want to see if he can break through to the Condensation Element realm in five hours.”
“Humph~!”
Ao Sheng flicked his sleeves in anger and turned to have his back facing Bai Qi.
His oppressive power strengthened another step.
Bai Qi’s body was trembling as he said anxiously, “I will have him host a banquet for you at the Skywatch Tower and admit his mistake in front of the whole city. My lord, please forgive him for his earlier offense. I, Bai Qi, will be grateful for the rest of my life.”
Ao Sheng snorted coldly and said with disdain, “You will be grateful to me all your life? What kind of a thing are you? Do I need your gratitude? A patriarch of a small silver family in Towering Cloud City doesn’t even have the qualifications to be grateful to me!”
Completely looking down on and insulting Bai Qi.
Upon seeing her father being humiliated, Bai Lingling was completely pissed off. She then said with great difficulty, ”What kind of a thing are you then? Like hell, we would be grateful to you!”
Ao Sheng’s figure made an aggressive turn as he stared at Bai Lingling from head to toe. He then said with a cold smile, “Originally, sparing his life would have been a simple matter. Just having your daughter accompany me for a night would have been fine. But I’m a person who hates it when the woman I like is already someone else’s woman. I have no interest in those kinds of women. But it’s different if that kid is dead. Little beauty, do you want to follow me? I guarantee that you will have food to eat and drink for the rest of your life. It’s even possible for you to directly become a disciple of the Misty Cloud Academy.”
“Ptooey~!”
Bai Lingling spat out a glob of phlegm on the ground and said, “Father! Let’s go!”
Bai Qi was also nursing flames of anger inside him.
Anyone would be upset when hearing such words talking about their daughter, but Bai Qi knew how to hold back. He forced a smile and said, “Young children don’t understand things, so please don’t bother with her.”
Ao Sheng waved his hand before looking at Bai Lingling pervertedly. He then said to himself, “Damn slut, wait until I kill that kid first before I will take care of you. I refuse to believe I won’t be able to get you into bed.”
Ao Sheng then smiled, “It is possible if you want me to forgive him. It’s up to you…”
He rubbed his fingers together faintly when saying those words.
Bai Qi instantly understood the meaning and took out all the xuan coins that the Bai family could take out for now. Adding the inherited heirloom his father had left him, the Golden Jade Cicada, he was able to gather a total of 400,000 xuan coins. All of it was handed over to Ao Sheng.
Ao Sheng weighed the coins with his hands and smiled in satisfaction.
He then pulled back his oppressive pressure.
Bai Qi felt relieved and said respectfully, “Thank you, my lord. I’ll make sure that Luo Tian admits his fault for gambling with you. Thank you for forgiving him.”
Ao Sheng put away the 400,000 xuan coins into his spatial ring. His gaze suddenly changed, and his mouth curved into a playful sneer. ”No need to thank me. I’ve already forgiven him for offending me, but I never said anything about revoking the bet.”
“Hahaha…” Ao Sheng started laughing sinisterly.